And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14, ESV
And shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ Deuteronomy 20:3-4, ESV
Adages only enter our language when they are generally accepted as true. “When it rains, it pours,” “It’s one thing after another,” “Trouble comes in threes,” and “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong (Murphy’s Law).”
We all have seasons when those particular adages seem to describe our circumstances. Fortunately, as believers, we can remember that we are not alone in the midst of whatever is overwhelming us.
As Israel was fleeing Egypt with Pharaoh’s armies quickly approaching, Moses reminded the people that the LORD would handle the problem. They just needed to wait. Forty years later, as Israel received final instructions before entering the Promised Land, again Israel was told battles would come, and they were not to panic. God was with them, and God would fight for them. Israel could count on God’s protection and presence as long as they walked in obedience to Him.
As educators, we face all sorts of battles and things beyond our control. Districts impose policies; parents make demands; students may be slow to follow instructions. Not to mention the people and issues that may cause distress outside the campus.
If we are walking in obedience, we can count on God to walk with us and show us a way through whatever is going on. God never promised an easy way around our troubles, but that He will be with us as we go through them. (And, if we discover that part of our difficulties stem from our own error, we can own it, confess that to Him, and courageously do what is needed to make it right with whomever we have offended.)
Heavenly Father, some of us are overwhelmed, anxious, and tired. Thank You for loving us and walking with us through whatever challenges we face. Help us learn to wait on Your solutions and have the courage to own our own sin and make it right with You and those we have offended. Amen.
Copyright Diana Anderson.
Diana is a Christian Educators member who teaches history and art to secondary students at a Christian school in Washington.
